Although the thinkers of various schools were out of tune with their times, their aspirations were expressed in their writings and have been constantly developed with the heritage of their thoughts. This idea from the chapter “Thinkers of Various Schools” of The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons means that in addition to the sages, thinkers of other schools also comprehended the fundamental laws of the universe and people’s lives. Although their foresight might not have been understood, accepted, or applied in practice by their contemporaries, people of later generations who comprehended, interpreted, and developed their thoughts would finally help to realize their aspirations. With this idea, Liu Xie (465?-520? or 532?), the Southern Dynasties author of The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, eulogizes the necessity of writing for conveying ideas and culture. He argues against the eager pursuit of material benefits, holding that one ought to endure being ideologically isolated from the times, refrain from “hastening to claim credit,” and be filled with a sacred sense of mission. The author interprets the idea that “indignation spurs one to write great works”by Sima Qian (145 or 135? -? BC), in a positive and optimistic manner, hence a major boost to the faith of literati and intellectuals in further dedication to the cause of writing.

Alas! Although the thinkers of various schools were out of tune with their times, their aspirations were eventually made known by their writings. They had foresight among their contemporaries and their works conveyed their aspirations through a millennium. Metals and stones with inscriptions may decay, but the reputations of thinkers of various schools will never fade. (Liu Xie: The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons)

Yuzi’s mind travelled far beyond those of his contemporaries, while his aspirations were handed down through a millennium. He hoped to bequeath his principles and his ambitions to later generations, as forever lasting as the sun and the moon in the sky. (Pang Xinggui: Annotations on Yuzi’s Works)